Darvish: I'm competitive, but don't want to 'go out there and risk my future'

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Rick Yeatts/Getty Images

ARLINGTON, TX - AUGUST 14: Robbie Ross #46 of the Texas Rangers reacts after being relieved in the fifth inning against the Tampa Bay Rays at Globe Life Park in Arlington on August 14, 2014 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Rick Yeatts/Getty Images)

Robbie Ross replaced ailing Yu Darvish as the Rangers’ starting pitcher Thursday night. Ross continued his season-long disintegration by failing to make it through the fifth inning of a 6-3 loss to Tampa Bay at Globe Life Park.

Get used to it.

Darvish may have avoided elbow surgery, but there is a strong possibility that he will not pitch again this season. Someone, be it Ross or mystery guests, has to fill in for those starts.

An examination found mild inflammation caused the elbow discomfort that forced Darvish onto the disabled list. Dr. Keith Meister, the team physician, said there is no indication this will be a long-term problem that would require surgery. Meister cannot set a timeline for a return until the soreness subsides.

That time line may start in spring training 2015. Darvish, speaking through an interpreter, was unenthusiastic on the subject of pitching again this season.

“I’m competitive, and I want to go out there and compete,” Darvish said. “But I also think about the long-term situation. I don’t want to go out there and risk my future. I don’t want my elbow to be aggravated. I think this is a good decision that I’m making now.

“I think I could throw, but if that’s going to risk my elbow for the future, I’m not going to take the risk.”

Darvish said the discomfort is milder than what he experienced in the elbow before the 2011 season with Hokkaido Nippon Ham of the Japan Pacific League. He made 28 starts that season.

In 2011, Darvish was pitching to enhance his appeal to major league teams. He does not have the same incentive this time.

There is not much to play for in the short term. The Rangers could finish with the worst record in the majors. Darvish has dropped back into the pack in the competition for the Cy Young Award.

The long term offers another multiyear contract, possibly as soon as after the 2016 season if Darvish meets Cy Young-related provisions. Darvish’s next deal will be more in the line of the seven-year, $155-million contract that the New York Yankees gave fellow Japanese right-hander Masahiro Tanaka before this season.

To get there, Darvish has to remain healthy. He has been on the disabled list in each of his three seasons with the Rangers. Darvish agreed the Major League Baseball season is more of a grind on pitchers than what he experienced in Nippon Pro Baseball.

“It’s evident because of so many injuries we have in Major League Baseball,” Darvish said.

If Darvish does not return, the Rangers have a better chance of finishing with the worst record in the majors and getting the first pick in next year’s draft. They are 13-9 in Darvish’s starts and 33-65 in all other games.

That includes a 2-8 record in Ross’ starts. The spring training decision to turn Ross into a starter ranks near the top of many calls gone wrong by the Rangers.

Ross opened the season in the rotation, pitched his way back into the bullpen and was demoted to Triple-A Round Rock in mid-June.

Not much has changed upon his return to replace Darvish. Ross allowed six runs in 41/3 innings and is 1-5 with a 5.40 ERA as a starter.

“He’s just not executing his pitches,” manager Ron Washington said. “In April, he started out throwing the ball, and then he hit a wall where he wasn’t executing. And tonight was just an example of him not executing.”

The most glaring example came in the second inning, when Ross put a flat 0-2 cut fastball over the middle of the plate to Logan Forsythe. He drove the mistake for a two-run homer that put the Rays ahead for the duration.

Washington has not decided if Ross will get another start. There are few options, and Yu Darvish is not among them.

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